Powering inclusion across our industry starts with you!

By Nicki Sutherland, Chief Executive

"To power the transition to an electrified and decarbonised future and continue our essential work of keeping the lights on, one of our biggest challenges is the need to grow our skilled workforce. We will not succeed if we do not include all of society in this endeavour," Chantelle Bramley, Transpower.

Last week’s annual EEA conference sparked an inspiring discussion on inclusion and how we must build a future workforce that is reflective of the diverse communities we serve.?

Over coffee and muffins, participants at the Powering Inclusion breakfast shared stories and ideas of how different businesses are boosting the participation of women, young people, Māori and Pasifika communities, while creating a culture of belonging for all.

It is a topic that is dear to the EEA’s heart. One of our strategic priorities is to build a diverse and inclusive workforce that has the technical talent and capability, to meet industry’s existing and future needs. To have any hope of meeting the challenge of decarbonising Aotearoa we will need resources from every sector of society.? Particularly the sector that’s over 50% of our population (wāhine) and the sector that’s 30% of all under 25-year-olds (Māori), aka the future workforce.

The recent discussion was free and frank–yes, the diversity challenge seems daunting and to date, change has been slow. Research from Transpower shows that of the several thousand people in New Zealand with an electrical engineering education, around 6% are women, 5.6% Māori and 2.2% Pasifika.

Our panellists were very clear in their message: change begins with you. Don’t abdicate responsibility to your HR teams or call it too hard–we can each make a difference by taking small achievable steps that will have a snowball effect.

We need to start by being inspirational and telling our stories better to attract diversity. Attending school and community events does not take you away from your day job. Your company has a vested interest in our industry expanding and attracting talent–it is your day job!

Building the brand, helping to explain education and career pathways to those who may never have even considered the sector and moving the narrative away from electricity = electrocution. Electricity is exciting, it’s collegial, it’s ever changing, with great career opportunities. Selling this story is an individual call to action as much as it is one for our industry.?

There may be numerous barriers to participation but there are other agencies out there who can help through the provision of community-based services such as connecting to known talent, numeracy and literacy education, driver licensing support, pastoral care or study support. Make the connections and work together.?

Another simple take-out from the front line was to hire two instead of one, so diversity hires feel less alone and under the spotlight.? A simple step that can make all the difference.

Of course, getting a more diverse group of people into the sector is one thing, getting them to stay is another. More effort is needed to develop and retain our underrepresented populations. That means structured peer support, empowering others to be allies, targeted development programmes and company benefits that are flexible enough to meet the needs of everyone.

Because when you start by impacting just one individual, the difference you make to them is significant. That difference will flow to others in their environment - their family, friends, peers and their community.

I urge you to join us in this endeavour.